Showing the golden tresses, ship and spear to two other Dwarf brothers, Brokkr and Sindri (or Etiri), he taunted them saying they could not match that level of craftsmanship. ![]() Loki’s roguish impulses could always be counted on to find sport in any circumstance, and instead of leaving for Asgard with the three worthy treasures, he decided to indulge in his usual passion for trickery and mischief. There, the sons of the dwarf Ivaldi with their vast talents did manage to create new golden locks for Sif, as well as Skidbladnir, a ship whose sails always swelled with a favorable wind and which could be folded up to fit in a pocket, and Gungnir, the deadliest of all spears. Thor spares him upon that promise and the irreverent god makes his way to Svartalfheim. The Dwarf race were regarded as master craftsmen and Loki suggested that they would be able to fashion a new head of golden hair for Sif more beautiful than the one he ruined. He proposes to travel all the way to Svartalfheim, home of the Dwarves, deep under the ground. The God of Thunder, always quick to ire and already sharing an acrimonious relationship with his brother, seizes Loki and is about to kill him when Loki pleads for a chance to redeem his wrong. While larking about, he decides to shave off the prized blonde tresses of Sif, Thor’s wife. The story of the origin of Thor’s Hammer begins with Loki in an especially impish mood. Norse storytellers did not paint Loki as a villain per se but rather as a mischievous character in fact, he is known as ‘The Trickster’ in the tales of old. Most people are shocked to learn that the mighty Hammer of Thor was created not at the behest of a ‘good guy’ character liked Odin, Thor’s father, but by Loki, who is seen as Thor’s arch rival. The gods and goddesses of Norse mythology are rich, multi-layered characters, significantly more nuanced and ambiguous than their black-and-white depictions as heroes or villains that we see in Hollywood movies. The Mjolnir/Mjölnir is actually part of the Norse mythology of the peoples of Scandinavia and tales of its creations and marvelous feats are about a thousand years old. However, as is all too often the case with the Hollywood version of anything it portrays, almost everything the layperson learns about this mythological object by watching the films, from the story of its origins to the magical properties with which it is imbued, differs significantly from the original source material. It has been helped in no small part to that position by the spectacular success of the Avengers movie series and especially the popularity of Thor, the Norse god who wields it. Mjolnir, the Hammer of Thor is undeniably one of the most popular fictional objects in popular culture today. ![]() Today, in addition to being one of the most prominent Norse protection symbols, Mjölnir is used to represent the Germanic Neopaganism faith also known as Heathenry/Heathenism. This tradition was carried on even after many Vikings converted to Christianity: Mjölnir amulets were worn by Christian Vikings along with crosses on their necks. In fact, Viking warriors used to wear Thor’s Hammer as an amulet during battle to provide protection. In the sense that Thor protected people against chaos by consecrating them with Mjölnir and he guarded the cosmos against the giants by crushing them with it, the Hammer of Thor is considered a Norse symbol of protection. It was also believed that he used Mjölnir to bless marriages during which he provided the couple with fertility. Thor consecrated things and people using his hammer and brought them from the realm of chaos into the sacred realm, that is, cosmos. One suggests that Mjöllnir means ‘lightning’ while others suggest it might mean ‘white’ (as in the color of lightning) and/or ‘new snow’ (in a sense that it represents purity).Īnother interpretation of the word suggests that the meaning is much closer to ‘crushing’ or ‘to crush’.Īll of these suggestions are at least somewhat related to the symbolism behind the Hammer of Thor.Īccording to Norse mythology, Mjölnir was not just a weapon but a tool that was used by Thor for many purposes. There are several ideas regarding the etymology of the word Mjǫllnir in Old Norse language. With its authenticity and significance in Norse mythology, Mjölnir, Thor’s Hammer is surely one of the most important Viking symbols/Norse symbols (if not the most important one).
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